Apparatus and method for monitoring termite activity

ABSTRACT

Apparatus, for detecting the presence and eating activity of organisms such as termites that damage structures, includes a body; a wooden bait element controllably exposed to the organisms within a cavity of the body, and having an applied bait substance; a side wall of the body having a vertically spaced plurality of smoothly converging entrance passages for admitting the organisms, a consumable porous barrier covering each of the entrance passages. Spring tension is applied to an upper end of the bait element, an opposite end being anchored to the body. A flag member that is connected to the upper end of the bait element projects from the body when the bait element is weakened to the predetermined amount by the organisms.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to pest control, and more particularly tomonitoring termite activity proximate and especially under buildingstructures.

Termite infestation and damage is a continuing problem in buildingshaving wood structure. Traditionally, the structures are inspected onlyinfrequently, such as in connection with a sale, at which timeconsiderable damage may have been done, with expensive repairs beingrequired. Termite infestation and damage is generally not readilyapparent, and partial dismantling of building structures in order tolocate possible infestation has to be weighed against the damage done bysuch dismantling and the cost of restoration. Even professionalinspections are not always effective with respect to inaccessiblestructure.

Accordingly, various non-invasive devices have been developed fordetecting termite activity, such devices being implanted in the groundaround and/or under homes or other building structures. For example,U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,726 to Thorne et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,496 toWoodruff disclose ground-implantable devices for detecting termiteactivity, the devices having a perforate outer housing for permanentground implantation, and a removable perforate cartridge having baittherein. The cartridge is removed and visually inspected for detectionof termite activity. These devices of the prior art exhibit a number ofdisadvantages; for example:

-   -   1. They are ineffective in that active termite infestations may        be ignored because:        -   a. the unit does not get proper inspections;        -   b. the original placement of the unit is difficult to            determine;        -   c. an aggressive termite colony was not identified early;            and    -   2. They are difficult to install and monitor, especially when        implanted in crawl space under structures.

Thus there is a need for a device that facilitates detection andmonitoring of infestation of soil environments of building structures bydestructive organisms, that is both effective and easy to use, and thatis inexpensive to provide.

SUMMARY

The present invention meets this need by providing a monitoring devicehaving a direct indication of a predetermined amount of cumulativedestructive activity of invasive organisms such as termites. In oneaspect of the invention, an apparatus for signaling a cumulative amountof weakening of a test material resulting from exposure to a hazardousenvironment includes a body; a test element supported relative to thebody and comprising the test material; means for controllably exposingthe test element to the hazardous environment; means for applying a loadforce to the test element, the load force being effective for displacinga portion of the test element when there is a predetermined amount ofweakening of the test element; a flag member movably supported relativeto the body and coupled to the test element for movement in projectingrelation to the body when the test element is weakened to thepredetermined amount. The means for controllably exposing can includethe body having a cavity for enclosing the test element, a side wall ofthe body having an opening therein for communicating with the hazardousenvironment. As used herein “hazardous environment” means an environmentthat may be deleterious to the strength of a structural material.

In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for detecting thepresence and eating activity of organisms that damage structures byconsuming portions thereof includes the body; a bait element supportedrelative to the body and comprising a consumable structural material;means for controllably exposing the bait element to the organisms; meansfor applying a load force to the bait element, the load force beingeffective for displacing a portion of the bait element when there is apredetermined amount of weakening of the bait element; a flag membermovably supported relative to the body and coupled to the bait elementfor movement in projecting relation to the body when the bait element isweakened to the predetermined amount by the organisms.

The exposing means can include the body having a cavity for enclosingthe bait element, a side wall of the body having an entrance passageformed therein for admitting the organisms. Preferably the exposingmeans further includes a barrier member covering the entrance passageand being formed of a sheet of consumable porous material for excludingforeign material from the entrance passage. The consumable material ofthe barrier member is preferably perforated for enhanced communicationof bait odor out of and of the organisms into the entrance passage. Thebarrier member can also act as an attractant, being selected, forexample, from the group consisting of balsa wood, pine, and cardboard.Preferably the body has an outer portion to which the sheet ofconsumable porous material is connected and a telescopically separablecore portion that supports the bait element and the flag member forfacilitating removal and inspection of the bait element withoutdisturbing the outer body and the sheet of porous material.

The entrance passage can extend between a first opening in an outsidesurface of the side wall and a second opening in an inside surface ofthe side wall, the first opening having a first area, the second openinghaving a second area being preferably less than the first area, thepassage smoothly tapering between the first area and the second area forconcentrating eating activity at a specific location along the baitelement. The body can form an elongate housing having respective bottomand top extremities, the entrance passage being preferably one of avertically spaced plurality of entrance passages for exposure toorganisms at plural depths within the hazardous environment, aconsumable porous barrier member covering each of the entrance passages.The entrance passages and the barrier member can be on a first fade ofthe body, the body preferably including a second face havingcounterparts of the entrance passages and the barrier member forexposing the bait element to organisms approaching from differentdirections.

The means for applying a load force can include a first coupling foranchoring one end to the bait element to the body, a second coupling forconnecting an opposite end of the bait element, and a spring forapplying tensile load to the bait element through the second coupling.The flag member can be connected to the second coupling. The baitelement can be a word member having a bait substance applied thereto.

In a further aspect of the invention, a method for monitoring apredetermined cumulative eating activity of organisms on a bait memberincludes:

-   -   (a) providing a housing body having an elongate cavity and a        side wall passage;    -   (b) anchoring one end of the bait member to the body with the        bait member extending within the cavity;    -   (c) connecting a flag member to an opposite end of the bait        member with the flag member extending to proximate a flag        opening of the body;    -   (d) connecting a spring member between the flag member and the        housing body for tensioning the bait member;    -   (e) placing the housing body in a medium subject to infestation        by the organisms with the side wall passage being accessible by        the organisms and the flag opening being located outside the        medium; and    -   (f) periodically observing the housing body for display to the        flag member in an extended position thereof.

The method can further include interposing a consumable porous barrierbetween the medium and the side wall passage for preventing the mediumfrom contacting the bait member.

DRAWING

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a termite monitoring apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a lateral sectional view on line 3—3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view on line 4—4 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to a device and method for detectingand monitoring the activity of invasive destructive organisms such astermites. With reference to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, a monitoringapparatus 10 includes a generally cylindrical housing body 12 having anelongate main cavity 14 for receiving a test element 16, a plurality ofentrance passages 18 being formed in one or more side walls 20 of thebody 12 for admitting the organisms (not shown). The test element 16 istypically in the form of a cardboard strip or rod, wooden rod or dowel,which can be impregnated or coated with a suitable attractant such asphermone, the element 16 thus also being sometimes referred to herein asa bait element. A stop member 22 is attached at a bottom extremity ofthe bait element 16 for anchoring engagement proximate a lower extremityof the main cavity 14. Also, a flag member 24 is connected to a topextremity of the bait element 16 by a flag fitting 26, the flag member24 being axially movable from a first position as shown by solid linesto a second position as shown by broken lines in FIG. 3. The flag member24 extends within a flag cavity 28 that forms an enlargement of the maincavity 14, the cavity 28 extending to the top of the housing body 12. Anupper portion of the flag cavity 28 is enlarged, forming a spring cavity30 for accommodating a stop ring 32 that projects laterally from theflag member, and a compression spring 34 that is interposed between thestop ring and a bottom extremity of the spring cavity 30 for biasing theflag member toward the second position thereof, the stop ring 32abutting a main cap 54 (further described below) that forms an upperextremity of the spring cavity 30 in the second position of the flagmember 24. Thus, when a predetermined amount of weakening of the testelement 16 occurs, the element fractures in tension, whereupon the flagmember 24 snaps to the second position thereof in projecting relation tothe housing body 12, being viewable from a distance as a directindication of the corresponding cumulative consumption of the element16.

The stop member 22 and the flag fitting 26 can be attached to the testelement 16 by any suitable means, such as by an adhesive, and/or by acoupling pin (not shown) that projects laterally through the element 16and opposite walls of the stop member (and the flag fitting). As shownin FIG. 3, the stop member 22 is retained against upward movement by ananchor ledge 36 that projects inwardly within the main cavity 14 of thebody 12.

A preferred configuration of the entrance passages 18 has each passageformed with a large outwardly facing first opening 38 and a much smallersecond opening 40 into the main cavity 14, the passage 18 being smoothlyinwardly tapered from a first area corresponding to the first opening 38to a second area corresponding to the second opening 40 for focusinginvasive activity at a particular location along the test element 16.

A principal feature of the present invention is that each entrancepassage 18 is covered by a porous barrier member 42 that is easilyconsumed by invasive organisms seeking access to the bait element 16after the apparatus 10 is imbedded in soil that may contain theorganisms. Thus the first openings 38 of the entrance passages 18 can bequite large without being blocked by pebbles or clods of the soil. Moreparticularly, it is expected that the invading organisms will notentirely consume the portions of the barrier member 42 that cover thefirst openings 38, the barrier member being at least partially effectivein excluding the soil particles from the entrance passages 18. Further,the soil particles that do get in the passages are likely to fall belowthe second openings 40 without blocking them. Moreover, the enhancedarea of the first openings 38 serves to enable the passage of gaseousattractant matter through the porous barrier member 42 at a rate atleast as great as that permitted by the smaller area of the secondopenings 40. As shown in FIG. 1, each of the first openings 38 can havea rounded rectangular of other non-circular shape for more fullyutilizing the area of the side walls 20 of the body 12. Further, thebarrier members are preferably perforated as indicated at 43 forenhanced communication of gaseous attractant into the soil, and forfacilitating entry of termites or other invasive organisms. As bestshown in FIG. 4, the barrier members 42 are retained in respective sidewalls 20 of the body 12 by pairs of flange portions 44, the barriermembers being inserted (or removed for replacement) from the top of thebody 12.

A drain opening 46 is provided at the bottom of the main cavity 14 asshown in FIG. 3 for draining moisture that might otherwise accumulatetherein, the opening 46 being recessed above a bottom extremity of thehousing body 12 for spacing soil therefrom when the apparatus 10 is inuse. Moisture released into the soil from the opening 46 creates anenvironment that is attractive to termites. As shown in FIG. 4, at leasta lower portion of the main cavity 12 14 optionally extends laterally asindicated at 12′ 14′ by a sufficient distance from the anchor ledge 36for allowing the test element having the stop member 22 thereon to belowered through the flag cavity 28 into the main cavity 14, and movedlaterally into engagement with the anchor ledge 36, the anchor ledge 36being open toward the enlarged cavity portion 12′ 14′.

Preferably the second openings 40 of the entrance passages 18 inrespective side walls 20 of the body 12 are at corresponding locationsalong the test element 16 for further concentrating invasive activity atthose locations, thereby further accelerating fracture of the testelement 16 to more effectively and repeatably indicate a degree ofinfestation as the predetermined weakening of the test element 16.

The apparatus 10 also includes a skirt member 48 for facilitatingimbedded placement of the housing body 12 vertically oriented and at adesired depth in soil. The skirt member also collects condensation,which typically occurs between the soil and the skirt-member. The skirtmember 48 is generally circular, having an outwardly and downwardlyextending main portion 49 for directing the condensation away from thehousing body 12, and a downwardly projecting flange portion 50 forimparting stiffness to the skirt member, which is also formed with acentral opening for passage of an upper portion of the housing body 12.The outwardly directed condensation advantageously creates an enlargedmoisture barrier around the housing 12, thereby enhancing the attractionof termite activity to the monitor apparatus 10.

The body 12 is formed with an outwardly projecting skirt lip 52 whichrests on the skirt member 48, the skirt member resting on the ground andbeing retained on the body 12 against the lip 52 by the weight of thebody 12 and the other components of the apparatus 10. A main cap 54covers the top of the body 12 and the barrier members 42 for sheddingmoisture that might fall on the apparatus 10, the main cap 54 having acentral opening 55 for exposing the flag cavity 28, the flag member 24extending partway through the opening 55 in the first position thereof.The main cap is upwardly convex for enhancing the shedding of moisture,and for smoothly deflecting passing objects such as lawnmowers and thelike that may be used in the vicinity of the apparatus 10. The flagmember 24 is exposed by extending through the main opening 55 in thesecond position thereof, upward movement of the flag member beinglimited by the stop ring 32 contacting the underside of the main cap 55.In the exemplary configuration of the apparatus 10 as shown in thedrawings, the housing body 12 is generally triangular in cross-section.Of course, there can be other numbers of the side walls 20, with squareand other polygonal cross-sectional shapes being contemplated.

Preferably the housing body 12 is separable, including a core portion12′ that holds the test element 16 together with the flag member 24 andits associated hardware, the designation 12 pertaining to an outer bodyportion having the flange portions 44 and the lip 52 formed thereon. Asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first openings 38 are formed in the coreportion 12′. Also, a bail member 56 is pivotally connected at the top ofthe core portion 12′ for facilitating removal thereof axially from thetop of the body 12 when the main cap 54 is removed, the cap 54 havingsnap-engagement with a cap lip 58 that is spaced above the skirt lip 52on the outer body 12. Thus the core portion 12′ can be removed from themain body portion 12 and inspected without disturbing either the body 12or the barrier members 42 that are retained thereby. As further shown inFIG. 4, the enlarged cavity potion 14′ can extend through a side wall20′ of the core portion 12′, the side wall 20′ not having the verticallyspaced entrance passages 18 formed therein. However, the main bodyportion 12 is provided with counterparts of the flange portions 44 andthe barrier member 42 facing the side wall 20′. In the alternative ofthe housing body 12 having the core portion 12′ being integrally formed,the enlarged cavity portion 14′ can be open to the outside, beingcovered by one of the barrier members 42.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions arepossible. For example, The housing body 12 can have a generally circularcross-section, a single tubular member being substituted for the barriermembers 42. Also, the stop member 22 can be configured forsnap-engagement with the anchor ledge 36, the body 12 being formedwithout the enlarged cavity portion 14′. Therefore, the spirit and scopeof the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to thedescription of the preferred versions contained herein.

1. Apparatus for signaling a cumulative amount of weakening of a testmaterial resulting from exposure to a hazardous environment in theground containing material-consuming organisms, comprising: (a) a anelongated body; (b) a test element supported relative to the body andcomprising the test material; (c) means openings extending through thebody, the openings being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body,the openings being operative for controllably exposing the test elementto the hazardous environment containing the material-consuming organismsand for providing passage for the organisms through the body to the testmaterial; (d) means for applying a load force to the test element, theload force being effective for displacing a portion of the test elementwhen there is a predetermined amount of weakening of the test elementcaused by consumption thereof by the organisms; (e) a flag membermovably supported relative to the body and coupled to the test elementfor movement in projecting relation to the body when the test element isweakened to the predetermined amount, with at least a portion of theflag member being movable from a first position enclosed within the bodyto a second position upward and out of the body beyond the hazardousenvironment.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means forcontrollably exposing comprises the body having a cavity for enclosingthe test element, a side wall of the body having an opening therein forcommunicating with the hazardous environment .
 3. Apparatus fordetecting the presence and eating activity or organisms that damagestructures by consuming portions thereof, the apparatus comprising: (a)a an elongated body; (b) a bait element supported relative to the bodyand comprising a consumable structural material; (c) means openingsextending through the body, the openings being transverse to alongitudinal axis of the body, the openings being operative forcontrollably exposing the bait element to the organisms and forproviding entrance passages for the organisms through the body to thebait element; (d) means for applying a load force to the bait element,the load force being effective for displacing a portion of the baitelement when there is a predetermined amount of weakening of the baitelement caused by consumption thereof by the organisms; (e) a flagmember movably supported relative to the body and coupled to the baitelement for movement in projecting relation to the body when the baitelement is weakened to the predetermined amount by the organisms, withat least a portion of the flag member being movable from a firstposition enclosed within the body to a second position upward and out ofthe body beyond the hazardous environment.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3,wherein the exposing means comprises the body having has a cavity forenclosing the bait element, wherein the openings are in a side wall ofthe body having an entrance passage formed therein for admitting theorganisms .
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the exposing meansfurther comprises a barrier member covering the entrance passagepassages, the barrier member being formed of a sheet of consumableporous material.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sheet ofconsumable porous material is perforated for enhancing communicationwith the entrance passage passages.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, whereinthe consumable material of the barrier member is selected from the groupconsisting of balsa wood, pine, and cardboard.
 8. The apparatus of claim5, wherein the body comprises an outer portion and a telescopicallyseparable core portion, the bait element and the flag member beingsupported within the core portion, the sheet of consumable porousmaterial being connected to the outer portion.
 9. The apparatus of claim4, wherein the entrance passage passages extends between a first openingin an outwardly facing surface of extend through the side wall and asecond opening in an inwardly facing surface of the side wall, the firstopening having a first area, the second opening having a second areabeing less than the first area , the entrance passage passages smoothlytapering between the first area and the second area from a first largerdiameter distal to the bait element to a smaller diameter proximate thebait element.
 10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the body forms anelongate housing having respective bottom and top extremities, theentrance passage passages being one of a vertically spaced plurality ofentrance passages , and a consumable porous barrier member covering eachof the entrance passages.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein theentrance passages and the barrier member are on a first face of thebody, the body also including a second face having counterparts of theentrance passages and the barrier member.
 12. The apparatus of claim 3,wherein the means for applying a load force comprises: a spring, a firstcoupling for anchoring one end to of the bait element to the body, asecond coupling for connecting an opposite end of the bait element tothe spring, and a the spring for applying tensile load to the baitelement through the second coupling.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12,wherein the flag member is connected to the second coupling.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 3, wherein the bait element has a bait substanceapplied thereto.
 15. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the bait elementis a wood member.
 16. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the bait elementis a cardboard member.
 17. A method for monitoring a predeterminedcumulative eating activity of organisms on a bait member, comprising:(a) providing a housing body having an elongate cavity and a side wallpassage that extends through the housing body in a direction that istransverse to a longitudinal axis of the housing body; (b) anchoring oneend of the bait member to the body with the bait member extending withinthe cavity; (c) connecting a flag member to an opposite end of the baitmember with the flag member extending to a position proximate a flagopening of the body; (d) connecting a spring member between the flagmember and the housing body for tensioning the bait member, wherein uponconsumption by eating activity of the organisms, the bait member issufficiently weakened and fractures whereupon the flag member is movedvia action of the spring member from a first position enclosed withinthe housing body to a second position upward and out of the housingbody; (e) placing the housing body in a medium subject to infestation bythe organisms with the side wall passage being accessible by theorganisms and the flag opening being located outside the medium; and (f)periodically observing the housing body for display to of the flagmember in an extended the second position thereof.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, further comprising interposing a consumable porous barrierbetween the medium and the side wall passage for preventing the mediumfrom contacting the bait member.
 19. Apparatus for detecting thepresence and eating activity of organisms that damage structures byconsuming portions thereof, the apparatus comprising: (a) a body formingan elongate housing having respective bottom and top extremities; (b) abait element supported relative to the body and comprising a wood memberhaving a bait substance applied thereto; (c) means for controllablyexposing the bait element to the organisms, comprising the body having acavity for enclosing the bait element, a side wall of the body having avertically spaced plurality of entrance passages formed therein foradmitting the organisms, each of the entrance passages extending betweena first opening in an outside surface of the side wall and a secondopening in an inside surface of the side wall, the first opening havinga first area, the second opening having a second area being less thanthe first area, the passages smoothly tapering between the first areaand the second area, a consumable porous barrier member covering each ofthe entrance passages, the entrance passages and the barrier memberbeing on a first face of the body, the body also including a second facehaving counterparts of the entrance passages and the barrier member; (d)means for applying a load force to the bait element, comprising a firstcoupling for anchoring one end to of the bait element to the body, asecond coupling for connecting an opposite end of the bait element, anda spring for applying tensile load to the bait element through thesecond coupling, the load force being effective for displacing a portionof the bait element when there is a predetermined amount of weakening ofthe bait element; (e) a flag member movably supported relative to thebody and connected to the second coupling for movement in projectingrelation to the body when the bait element is weakened to thepredetermined amount by the organisms, with at least a portion of theflag member being movable from a first position enclosed within the bodyto a second position upward and out of the body.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 19, wherein the bait element has a bait substance applied thereto.21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the bait element is a woodmember.
 22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the bait element is acardboard wood member is selected from the group consisting of balsawood or pine.
 23. A method for monitoring structural weakening of amaterial, the weakening resulting from exposure to subterraneanorganisms, the method comprising: placing a tubular-shaped body, with alongitudinal axis in a vertical orientation, at least partially in soil,the material being entirely disposed within the body; applying a forceto the material, the force being effective to cause a displacement of atleast a portion of the material when there is a weakening of thematerial; providing a passageway through at least a portion of the bodyfrom the soil toward the material, the passageway being transverse tothe longitudinal axis of the body, wherein the passageway is enclosed byone or more sidewalls, the passageway having a diameter beingdimensioned to permit travel of the subterranean organisms from the soiltoward the material and being tapered from a wide diameter end proximateto the soil to a narrow diameter end proximate to the material, wherebythe passageway directs the subterranean organisms toward a specificportion of the material where the subterranean organisms can cause aweakening of the material; and in response to the displacement,signaling the weakening of the material resulting from its exposure tothe subterranean organisms, the signal comprising an exterior projectionof a signaling member from the body.
 24. The method of claim 23, furthercomprising: limiting exposure of the material to the soil whilepermitting exposure of the material to the subterranean organisms. 25.The method of claim 23, wherein the passageway is tapered substantiallylinearly.
 26. The method of claim 23, wherein the signaling membercomprises a flag and the signaling step comprises: ejecting at least aportion of the flag from the body.
 27. The method of claim 23, furthercomprising: providing an annular-shaped skirt around the body near anend of the body distal from the soil, the skirt covering the ground inan area around the body, whereby the skirt provides a moisture barrieraround the body and thereby enhances the attractiveness of the materialto the subterranean organisms.
 28. The method of claim 23, furthercomprising: providing an outer housing around the body, the outerhousing having an opening for permitting access of the subterraneanorganisms to the passageway.
 29. The method of claim 23, wherein thebody has an elongate shape.
 30. A device for signaling the presence of amaterial-consuming organism, the device comprising: a body having anouter wall; a material consumable by the organism, the material beingentirely disposed within the body; an opening through the wall, theopening being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body, the openinghaving a diameter dimensioned to permit the organism to fit through theopening; a passage in the body extending at least partially between theopening and the material, the passage having a sidewall enclosing thepassage, the passage dimensioned to permit the organism to travelthrough the passage to reach the material, wherein the sidewall of thepassage is tapered from a wide diameter end distal to the material to anarrow diameter end proximate to the material, whereby the taperedsidewall of the passage directs the organism to a specific portion ofthe material where the organism can consume the material and therebycause a structural weakening of the material; and a spring in tensionwith the material so as to apply a force to the material, the forcebeing sufficient to cause a displacement of at least a portion of thematerial when there is a structural weakening of the material, thedisplacement effectuating an exterior projection of a signaling memberfrom the body indicating the presence of the organism in the device. 31.The device of claim 30, wherein the sidewall is tapered substantiallylinearly.
 32. The device of claim 30, further comprising: a barrierdisposed between the outer wall and the material, the barrier being atleast partly effective in excluding soil particles from entering thepassage but not excluding the organism from entering the passage. 33.The device of claim 32, wherein the barrier comprises perforations. 34.The device of claim 33, wherein the material consumable by the organismemits an odor attractive to the organism, the perforations enhancingcommunication of the odor out of the device.
 35. The device of claim 32,wherein the barrier is porous.
 36. The device of claim 30, wherein thedevice is positionable in soil where the material-consuming organism maybe present and the signaling member comprises a flag, wherein the flagis coupled to the material for movement in projecting relation to thebody in a direction away from the soil in response to the displacement.37. The device of 30, further comprising: an annulus-shaped skirtdisposed around the body near a top of the body for placement aboveground.
 38. A device for signaling the presence of a material-consumingorganism, the device comprising: a body housing having an outer walldefining an inner cavity; a body core, separable from the body housing,disposed within the inner cavity in a removably telescopic orientation;a material consumable by the organism, the material being disposedwithin the body core; an opening through the outer wall of the bodyhousing, the opening dimensioned so that the organism can fit throughthe opening and reach the material, whereby the organism can consume thematerial and thereby cause a structural weakening of the material; and aspring in tension with the material so as to apply a force to thematerial, the force being sufficient to cause a displacement of at leasta portion of the material upon structural weakening of the material, thedisplacement effectuating a signaling member moving from a firstposition enclosed within the body to a second position upward and out ofthe body for indicating the presence of the organism in the device. 39.The device of claim 38, further comprising: a barrier disposed outsidethe body core, the barrier being substantially impervious to soil butnot impervious to the organism.
 40. The device of claim 39, wherein thebarrier comprises perforations.
 41. The device of claim 40 wherein thematerial consumable by the organism emits an odor attractive to theorganism, the perforations enhancing communication of the odor out ofthe device.
 42. The device of claim 39, wherein the barrier is porous.43. The device of claim 39, wherein the barrier is separable from thebody housing and the body core and is removably insertable therebetween.44. The device of claim 39, wherein the barrier is consumable by theorganism.
 45. The device of claim 38, further comprising: a passageformed on the body core and extending at least partially between theopening and the material consumable by the organism when the body coreis engaged within the body housing, the passage having a sidewall, thepassage dimensioned to permit the organism to travel through the passagetoward the material.
 46. The device of claim 45, wherein the sidewall ofthe passage is tapered from a wide end distal to the material consumableby the organism to a narrow end proximate to the material consumable bythe organism, whereby the tapered sidewall of the passage directs theorganism to a specific location on the material for consumption.
 47. Thedevice of claim 46, wherein the sidewall is tapered substantiallylinearly.
 48. The device of claim 38, wherein the signaling membercomprises a flag coupled to the material for movement in projectingrelation to the body core in response to the displacement.
 49. Thedevice of claim 38, further comprising: an annulus-shaped skirt disposedaround the body housing near a top end of the body housing.
 50. A devicefor signaling the presence of a material-consuming organism, the devicecomprising: a body housing having an outer wall defining an innercavity, the outer wall comprising an opening dimensioned so that theorganism can fit through the opening; a body core within the bodyhousing, the body core substantially filling the cavity, the body corecomprising a radial passage, a front face of the radial passageoverlapping the opening, the passage dimensioned so that the organismcan fit through the passage; a material consumable by the organismwithin the body core, the material extending most of a length of thebody housing, whereby the organism can reach the material by travelingthrough the opening and the passage, and whereby the organism canconsume the material and thereby cause a structural weakening of thematerial; and a spring in tension with the material so as to apply aforce to the material, the force being sufficient to cause adisplacement of at least a portion of the material when there is astructural weakening of the material, the displacement effectuating anindication of the presence of the organism in the device comprised of aflag member moving from a first position enclosed within the bodyhousing to a second position upward and out of the body housing.
 51. Thedevice of claim 50, wherein the outer wall is approximately cylindricalin shape.
 52. The device of claim 50, wherein the material and thespring are approximately centered about a central vertical axis of thedevice.
 53. The device of claim 50, further comprising: a barrierdisposed outside the body core, the barrier being substantiallyimpervious to soil but not impervious to the organism.
 54. The device ofclaim 53, wherein the barrier comprises perforations.
 55. The device ofclaim 54 wherein the material consumable by the organism emits an odorattractive to the organism, the perforations enhancing communication ofthe odor out of the device.
 56. The device of claim 53, wherein thebarrier is porous.
 57. The device of claim 53, wherein the barrier isconsumable by the organism.
 58. The device of claim 50, wherein thepassage has a sidewall that is tapered from a wide diameter end distalto the material consumable by the organism to a narrow diameter endproximate to the material consumable by the organism, for directing theorganism to a specific location on the material for consumption.
 59. Thedevice of claim 58, wherein the sidewall is tapered substantiallylinearly.
 60. The device of claim 50, wherein the flag member is coupledto the material for movement in projecting relation to the body core inresponse to the displacement with at least a portion of the flag memberextending externally from the body housing and being viewable from adistance indicating presence of material-consuming organisms in thedevice.
 61. The device of claim 60, further comprising: anannulus-shaped skirt disposed around the body housing near a top end ofthe body housing.
 62. A device for signaling the presence ofmaterial-weakening organisms, the device comprising: a body having anexterior wall; a plurality of transverse outer openings in the exteriorwall of the body, dimensioned to permit the organisms to fit through; acavity within the body, the cavity having an interior wall, the cavitybeing substantially smaller than the body; a plurality of transverseinner openings in the interior wall of the cavity, dimensioned to permitthe organisms to fit through; a material disposed within the cavity;wherein the organisms, when in contact with the material, cause astructural weakening of the material; a spring in tension with thematerial so as to apply a force to the material, the force beingsufficient to cause a displacement of at least a portion of the materialwhen there is a structural weakening of the material, the displacementeffectuating an exterior projection of a signaling member moving from afirst position enclosed within the body to a second position upward andout of the body for indicating the presence of the organisms in thedevice.
 63. The device of claim 62, wherein the inner openings in theinterior wall of the cavity are smaller than the outer openings in theexterior wall of the body.
 64. The device of claim 62, furthercomprising: a barrier disposed outside of the openings in the interiorwall of the cavity.
 65. The device of claim 64, wherein the barriercomprises perforations.
 66. The device of claim 65, wherein the materialdisposed within the cavity emits an odor attractive to the organisms,and the perforations enhance communication of the odor out of thedevice.
 67. The device of claim 62, wherein the signaling membercomprises a flag coupled to the spring, the flag moving in projectingrelation to the body in response to the displacement.
 68. The device ofclaim 62, further comprising: an annulus-shaped skirt disposed aroundthe body near an end of the body.
 69. A device for signaling thepresence of subterranean material-weakening organisms in soil, thedevice comprising: a body, having an exterior wall, for at least partialsubmersion in soil leading with a bottom end of the body, the bodyhaving a top end opposite from the bottom end; a plurality of transverseopenings in the exterior wall of the body, dimensioned to permit theorganisms to fit through; a material disposed within the body, whereinthe organisms, when in contact with the material, cause a structuralweakening of the material; a cavity within the body, the cavity beingsubstantially smaller than the body, the cavity being near the top endof the body; a spring disposed within the cavity, the spring being heldin tension by the material such that a structural weakening of thematerial causes an end of the spring to undergo a displacement, thedisplacement effectuating an exterior projection of a signaling membermoving from a first position enclosed within the body to a secondposition upward and out of the body for indicating the presence of theorganisms in the device.
 70. The device of claim 69, wherein the body isgenerally elongate in shape from the top end to the bottom end.
 71. Thedevice of claim 69, further comprising: a second cavity within the body,the second cavity being substantially smaller than the body, the secondcavity containing the material, the second cavity having an interiorwall, the interior wall having an opening dimensioned to permit theorganisms to fit through.
 72. The device of claim 69, furthercomprising: a barrier disposed outside of the material.
 73. The deviceof claim 72, wherein the barrier comprises perforations.
 74. The deviceof claim 73, wherein the material disposed within the cavity emits anodor attractive to the organisms, and the perforations enhancecommunication of the odor out of the device.
 75. The device of claim 69,wherein the signaling member comprises a flag coupled to the spring, theflag moving in projecting relation to the body in response to thedisplacement.
 76. The device of claim 69, further comprising: anannulus-shaped skirt disposed around the body near the top end of thebody.
 77. A device for monitoring structural weakening of a materialdisposed within a body to be placed at least partially in soil, theweakening resulting from exposure to subterranean organisms, the devicecomprising: means for applying a force to the material, the force beingeffective to cause a displacement of at least a portion of the materialwhen there is a weakening of the material; a tubular-shaped body housingthe material, the material being entirely disposed within the body, thebody being placed in the soil and having a passageway disposed throughat least a portion of the body from the soil toward the material, thepassageway being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body, whereinthe passageway is enclosed by one or more sidewalls, the passagewaybeing dimensioned to permit travel of the subterranean organisms fromthe soil toward the material and being tapered from a wide diameter endproximate to the soil to a narrow diameter end proximate to thematerial, whereby the passageway directs the subterranean organismstoward a specific portion of the material where the subterraneanorganisms can cause a weakening of the material; and means for signalingthe weakening of the material, in response to the displacement,resulting from the material's exposure to the subterranean organisms,the means for signaling comprising a signaling member, with at least aportion of the signaling member being movable from a first positionenclosed within the body to a second position out of the body.
 78. Adevice for monitoring structural weakening of a material disposed withina body to be placed at least partially in soil, the weakening resultingfrom exposure to subterranean organisms, the device comprising: a springmechanism that applies a force to the material, the force beingeffective to cause a displacement of at least a portion of the materialwhen there is a weakening of the material; a tubular-shaped body housingthe material, the material being entirely disposed within the body, thebody being placed in the soil and having a passageway disposed throughat least a portion of the body from the soil toward the material, thepassageway being transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body, whereinthe passageway being dimensioned to permit travel of the subterraneanorganisms from the soil toward the material, the passageway having alarger diameter opening proximate to the soil relative to a narrowerdiameter opening proximate to the material, whereby the passagewaydirects the subterranean organisms toward a specific portion of thematerial where the subterranean organisms can cause a concentratedweakening of the material; and means for signaling the weakening of thematerial, in response to the displacement, as a result of the material'sexposure to the subterranean organisms.